Profile of the Day: Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly

Happy birthday, Grace Kelly! Today we celebrate what would have been the Princess’ 86th birthday.

She was born on November 12, 1929 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was the third of four children. Her father, John B. Kelly, Sr., was a three-time Olympic gold medalist in sculling and served in the U.S. Army during World War I. After his time in the army, he started a successful brickwork contracting company, which eventually made him a millionaire. In 1924, he married Margaret Katherine Majer, a physical education instructor at the University of Pennsylvania. She was the first female to coach women’s athletic teams at the prestigious university.

During the 1950s, Kelly was one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood. However, she retired from acting after marring Prince Rainier III of Monaco. Dubbed the “Wedding of the Century” by the press, Kelly’s family had to provide a dowry of $2 million dollars.

Tragedy struck on September 13, 1982 when Kelly suffered a stroke, which caused her to lose control of her vehicle and drive off a steep cliff. Her daughter, Stéphanie, was in the passenger seat and suffered minor injuries. Kelly died the following night after succumbing to her injuries.

Despite appearing in only 11 films during her career, Kelly remains one of the most beloved and iconic actresses in Hollywood history.

What’s your favorite film?
 

View Grace Kelly’s Geni Profile

Image: Wikimedia Commons